Mobile storage systems and racks for wine

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides compositions, methods and kits for mobile storage systems and racks for wine. In particular, the present invention provides for stackable storage systems for bottles of wine, champagne, and the like that are capable of expansion and mobility.

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.60/986,407, filed Nov. 8, 2007, which is herein incorporated byreference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides compositions, methods, and kits formobile storage systems and racks for wine. In particular, the presentinvention provides for stackable storage systems for bottles of wine,champagne, and the like that are capable of expansion and mobility.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

People of all economic levels have shared the popularity of wine,sparkling and still, for thousands of years. High quality wine hashistorically been distributed and stored in a glass bottle, typicallywith a cork stopper. Oxygen is a killer of wine, and any seepage ofoxygen into a bottle of wine will eventually turn it to vinegar. One wayto guard against oxygen seepage into a bottle of wine is too store it onits side such that the wine is wetting the cork, thereby allowing for itto expand and tightly seal the contents of the bottle against any oxygenseepage to the inside of the bottle. Consequently, the horizontalstorage of wine has been practiced for centuries.

There are a myriad of storage units that facilitate the home andstoreowner in storing wine on its side. Small modular units forsmall-scale horizontal storage of wine are readily available and can beconvenient for use in a home. Large-scale modular units are alsoavailable for use in restaurants, wine boutiques, and others interestedin collecting and storing large numbers of bottles of wine. Examples ofsuch units can be seen in US patent applications and Patents2007/0017884, 2007/0080124, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,254,952 and 6,763,956.Additional examples of modular systems for wine storage includeMODULARACK Wine Racks (www.wineappreciation.com) and systems offered byMobile, Inc. (Montmagny (Quebec), Canada; www.montek.com).

However, the problem with existing systems is their lack of mobilitysuch that they are not easily moved around an area when loaded withbottles of wine. The lack of mobility is a big issue, for example, in awine store or restaurant where large-scale wine storage is anticipatedwith a finite amount of space.

As such, the present invention provides systems and racks for winestorage that are modular such that they can be added to or subtractedfrom, as well as movable such that the modular units can be moved arounda room with ease.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides compositions, methods and kits for mobilestorage systems and racks for wine. In particular, the present inventionprovides for stackable storage systems for bottles of wine, champagne,and the like that are capable of expansion and mobility.

Certain illustrative embodiments of the invention are described below.The present invention is not limited to these embodiments.

In some embodiments, the present invention provides a wine rack that isboth modular and moveable. In some embodiments, the wine rack comprisesa modular frame assembly comprising, for example, a plurality ofhorizontal members, cross members, and stabilizing rods. In someembodiments, the horizontals members comprise notches within which areseated the cross members. In some embodiments, said notches are spacedalong said horizontal members such that a plurality of cross members(e.g., at least two, at least four) are seated. In some embodiments, thehorizontal members further comprise spaced holes for accommodatingstabilizing bars.

In some embodiments, said cross members comprise indentations, such asscallops, V-shapes, or other forms of indentations for accommodatingbottles of wine. In some embodiments, cross members comprise largerindentations to accommodate wine bottles with a greater circumference,for example champagne bottles, while other cross members compriseindentations for accommodating wine bottles of lesser circumference. Insome embodiments, said cross members comprise differentially sizedindentations such that bottles of wine with differentially sizedcircumferences are accommodated on one cross member. The cross membersare seated on said horizontal members, wherein one end of a cross memberin seated in one horizontal member and the other end of said crossmember is seated in a complementary horizontal member such that thecross members are seated perpendicular to said horizontal members. Insome embodiments, said cross members are seated in groups of two, suchthat the neck of a bottle of wine is cradled in the indentation in onecross member of the group of two and the bottom of the bottle of wine iscradled in the indentation of the second cross member of the group oftwo.

In some embodiments, the stabilizing rods pass through the holes asfound in the horizontal members. In some embodiments, the stabilizingrods are made of metal and fixed to the bottom of the modular frame,upon which are stacked a plurality of horizontal members. Thestabilizing rods are sufficiently long to accommodate multiplehorizontal members, thereby allowing for an expandable frame foraccommodating a changeable number of bottles of wine.

As such, the present invention provides a modular wine rack systemcomprising a stackable, expandable system of horizontal members, uponwhich are located cross members, in a stackable fashion (e.g.,horizontal member-cross member-horizontal member-cross member, etc, oneupon the other). The stabilizing bars pass through all horizontalmembers thereby stabilizing all horizontal members and cross members asone complete unit.

The present invention further provides a moveable wine rack system. Insome embodiments, the moveable wine rack system is not modular andexpandable and comprises a fixed number of cross members foraccommodating a fixed number of bottles of wine. In some embodiments,the moveable wine rack system is modular and expandable to accommodate achangeable number of bottles of wine. In some embodiments, the moveablewine rack system comprises moveable means for moving the wine racksystem from one location to another. Moveable means include, but are notlimited to, wheels, rollers, balls, casters, track systems and the like.The present invention is not limited by the means used to move the winerack, as such any device or system capable of moving the wine rack fromone location to another are considered moveable means embodied in thepresent invention.

The present invention is found in any location where a wine rack wouldfind utility. The present invention provides for, for example, a privateor commercial buyer and/or seller of wine to accommodate a changinginventory of wine, as well as providing economy of space via mobility ofthe wine racks. For example, a wine rack of the wine around for economyof space and to accommodate collections of a private wine owner isdesired. A wine rack of the present invention also finds commercialapplications, for example, in wine boutiques or stores, or in wine cavesor storage areas of restaurants, etc. where wine inventory is everchanging, and economy of space is increasing important as winecollections increase.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary expandable, mobile wine rack of thepresent invention (1).

FIG. 2 illustrates an expanded view of an exemplary expandable, mobilewine rack of the present invention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a front and back view of the present.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a first embodiment of an expandable, mobile wine rackof the present invention. Fixedly attached on the underside of the baseare exemplary rollers (5) for moving the wine rack from one location toanother.

FIG. 7 illustrates a second embodiment of an expandable, mobile winerack of the present invention. Fixedly attached on the underside of thebase is an exemplary track system (15) for moving the wine rack from onelocation to another.

FIG. 8 illustrates an underside view of an expandable, mobile wine rackof the present invention exemplifying one embodiment (rollers) of amobile system.

FIG. 9 illustrates a room wherein are located several wine rack systemsof the present invention are moved such that they are in close proximityto each other thereby allowing for efficiency in use of space, forexample.

FIG. 10 illustrates a room wherein are located several wine rack systemsof the present invention are moved such that they are apart from eachother.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The expandable, mobile wine rack system of the present inventionprovides compositions, methods and kits for storage of a changeablenumber of wine bottles and the storage of the wine bottles in a confinedspace. In particular, the present invention provides a wine rack systemcomprising multiple moveable wine racks (See FIGS. 9 and 10). Inparticularly preferred embodiments, the individual wine racks within thesystem are moveable so that an individual wine rack may be moved betweena position adjacent to the other wine racks in the system (i.e., acollapsed position) to a position separate from the other wine racks inthe system (i.e., a separated portion). Thus, the wine racks in thesystem may be moved into a collapsed arrangement where each wine rack inthe system is adjacent to the next wine rack in the system (See FIG. 9).This arrangement conserves space in a confined area and allows for thestorage of more wine bottles in a given area. The mobility of the wineracks also allows one or more of the wine racks within the system to beseparated from other wine racks within the system to allow ingress oregress by a user that wished to access a wine bottle stored on the wineracks. (See FIG. 10). By moving one or more individual wine racks withinthe system to a separated position, an aisle is created between theindividual wine racks allowing ingress and egress by a user.

One or more wine bottles, sizes ranging from approximately 750 ml to 1.5liters, are stored horizontally in the wine rack system in uniformpositions. However, it is contemplated that a wine rack system of thepresent invention is not limited by the size of bottles being stored andbottles both smaller and larger are equally amenable to the presentinvention. The bottles are supported in cross members and each bottle iscradled in the cross members, indented for bottle positions, connectedlaterally to the wine rack system by placement upon horizontal members.The racks are configured to hold and support a plurality (e.g., one ormore) of bottles.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary expandable, moveable wine rack unit (1)of the present invention. In some embodiments, the present inventionprovides an expandable, moveable wine rack system of the presentinvention comprises a modular frame, wherein components of the wine racksystem can be added to or subtracted from for accommodating a changeablenumber of wine bottles. In FIG. 2, a base unit (2) for the moveable winerack unit of the present invention provides a foundation for the modularframe of the wine rack system. Each base unit (2) comprises a basemember (3) and a roller system (4-5). Upon each base member (3) arefixedly attached two or more horizontal members (7). A base member (3)comprises a front, back, top, bottom and sides. Horizontal members (7)comprise a top, bottom, front, back and sides. Holes (9) are found insaid horizontal members (7) for placement of stabilization bars (10).Further, horizontal members have notches (8) therein for placement ofcross members. In some embodiments, the base and horizontal members aremade of wood; however any suitable material is contemplated for use in awine rack system of the present invention. For example, plastics,metals, composites, synthetic materials such as nylon and other rigidsynthetics find utility as wine rack materials of the present invention.In some embodiments, bottom horizontal members (e.g., those in directcommunication with the base member) are typically fixedly attached tothe base member (e.g., by bolts), whereas in other embodimentshorizontal members are permanently attached to the base member (e.g., byglue or other permanent mounting medium). FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 provideadditional views (e.g., front/back, side and top, respectively) of awine rack system of the present invention.

As seen in FIG. 2, horizontal members (7) comprise holes (9) which passthrough the height of the horizontal members, within which are passedstabilization bars (10). The stabilization bars are comprised of metal,preferably steel. In one embodiment, the stabilization bars (10) arefixedly attached to the bottommost horizontal member (e.g., by bolts),pass through all the horizontal members, and are fixedly attached to thetopmost horizontal member (e.g., by bolts). In other embodiments, thestabilization bars are fixedly attached to each of the horizontalmembers and they pass through and not, for example, just the bottommostand topmost horizontal members. In some embodiments, the stabilizationbars are fixedly attached to horizontal members based on, for example, acustomer's needs.

The present invention further comprises cross members (11). Crossmembers, as seen in FIGS. 2-5, are utilized for supporting a plurality(e.g., one or more) of wine bottles. Cross members of the presentinvention comprise a front, back, top, bottom. Cross members of thepresent invention have indentations (12) therein, such as scallops,notches, and the like, or other indentation configurations along thelength of the cross member for cradling bottles of wine. In someembodiments, the indentations are square or V-shaped notches. Inpreferred embodiments, the indentations are scallops with asemi-circular aspect. Dimensions of exemplary scallops (12) are createdfor accommodating wine bottles from, for example, 750 ml to 1.5 liters,however other sizes of bottles, and therefore scallop dimensions, arealso contemplated. In some embodiments, cross members (11) are removablypositioned into the notches of a horizontal member. For example, thefirst end (13) of one cross member is placed in a first notch of a firsthorizontal member, wherein the placement results in a perpendicularaspect between the cross member and the horizontal member. The secondend of a cross member is placed in a second notch of a second horizontalmember such that the placement results in a perpendicular aspect betweenthe second end of a cross member and the second horizontal member. Sucha configuration is demonstrated in FIGS. 3 and 5, for example.

The number of cross members, and thereby horizontal members, utilized ina wine rack of the present invention is not fixed, thereby allowing for,for example, expandability of a wine rack in terms of the number ofbottles a system holds. For example, fewer cross members and horizontalmembers are stacked one atop the other (e.g., with stabilization barspassing through all stacked horizontal members) when there are fewerbottles of wine needing storage as compared to when there are morebottles of wine needing storage. Typically, greater numbers of bottlesof wine require the use of more cross members and horizontal members ascompared to fewer bottles of wine. As such, a wine rack of the presentinvention is expandable thereby providing options for accommodatingvarying numbers of wine bottles requiring storage based on, for example,customer need.

A wine rack unit (1) of the present invention is moveable. A moveablewine rack unit provides for displacement of the wine rack units in aneasy manner, from one location in a room to another location withouthaving to, for example, unload the wine rack of wine bottles prior tomovement of the rack. Further, displacement of wine racks allows forwine racks to be stacked close together or far apart, or movedthroughout a space based on the needs of the individual using the racks.As seen in FIGS. 6-8, moveable means, as depicted in embodimentsnumbered 5 (rollers) and 15 (track system) are fixedly (6) attached onthe underside of the base member (3). In some embodiments, metal tracks(4) are fixedly attached to the underside of the base member. In oneembodiment, wheels or rollers (5) are affixed (6) to the metal tracksthereby allowing for displacement of the wine rack from one location toanother, as exemplified in FIGS. 9 and 10. In some embodiments, moveablemeans comprise a track system (15). For example, a metal track isaffixed to the underside of a base member and comprises rollers,gliders, and the like for moving along a track system (15) affixed to afloor thereby allowing for displacement of the wine rack system from onelocation to another along the track system as seen in FIGS. 9 and 10. Inother embodiments, not shown, it is contemplated that the wine racks canbe supported from an overhead system of rails so that the wine rack hangfrom the rails and can be moved from collapsed to separated positions.

In some embodiments, the present invention further provides a kit forcreating an expandable, moveable wine rack system comprising a basemember, stabilization bars, cross members, horizontal members, metaltracks, rollers, and instructions for creating said wine rack system asdescribed herein.

All publications and patents mentioned in the present application areherein incorporated by reference. Various modification and variation ofthe described methods and compositions of the invention will be apparentto those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spiritof the invention. Although the invention has been described inconnection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understoodthat the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to suchspecific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the describedmodes for carrying out the invention that are obvious to those skilledin the relevant fields are intended to be within the scope of thefollowing claims.

1. An expandable, moveable wine rack system comprising: two or moremoveable wine racks units, each wine rack unit comprising a plurality ofwine bottle cradles for storing wine bottles in a horizontal position,wherein said two or more moveable wine rack units are movable between acollapsed position wherein said two or more movable wine rack units areadjacent to one another and a separated position wherein at least one ofsaid two or more moveable wine racks units are separated to allowingress and egress of a used between said moveable wine racks.
 2. Theexpandable, moveable wine rack system of claim 1, wherein said two ormore moveable wine rack units each comprises a modular frame comprisinga bottom, a plurality of horizontal members, cross members andstabilizing bars wherein said frame is expandable such that the numberof said horizontal members and said cross members can be added to orsubtracted from.
 3. The expandable, moveable wine rack system of claim2, wherein the modular frames of each of the two or more wine rack unitsare configured to interface with one another in said collapsed positionso that the two or more wine rack units can be positioned adjacent toone another.
 4. The expandable, moveable wine rack system of claim 1wherein each wine rack unit comprises rollers so that said two or morewine rack units can be moved between said collapsed position and saidseparated position.
 5. The expandable, moveable wine rack system ofclaim 1, wherein said system comprises a track system and each of saidtwo or more wine rack units engages said track system so that said twoor more wine racks units can be moved between said collapsed positionand said separated position.
 6. The expandable, moveable wine rack ofclaim 1, wherein said cross members have wine bottle storageindentations therein sized to accommodate bottles of wine in ahorizontal position.
 7. A method for storing and moving bottles of winein a confined space comprising: a) providing bottles of wine and two ormore moveable wine racks units, each wine rack unit comprising aplurality of wine bottle cradles for storing said wine bottles in ahorizontal position, wherein said two or more moveable wine rack unitsare movable between a collapsed position wherein said two or moremovable wine rack units are adjacent to one another and a separatedposition wherein at least one of said two or more moveable wine racksunits are separated to allow ingress and egress of a used between saidmoveable wine racks; b) storing said wine bottles on said two or moremoveable wine rack units; and c) moving said two or more wine rack unitsbetween said collapsed and said separated positions to allow placementand removal of said wine bottles stored on said two or more moveablewine rack units.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein said two or moremoveable wine rack units each comprises a modular frame comprising abottom, a plurality of horizontal members, cross members and stabilizingbars wherein said frame is expandable such that the number of saidhorizontal members and said cross members can be added to or subtractedfrom.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the modular frames of each ofthe two or more wine rack units are configured to interface with oneanother in said collapsed position so that the two or more wine rackunits can be positioned adjacent to one another.
 10. The method of claim7, wherein each wine rack unit comprises rollers so that said two ormore wine rack units can be moved between said collapsed position andsaid separated position.
 11. The method of claim 7, wherein said systemcomprises a track system and each of said two or more wine rack unitsengages said track system so that said two or more wine racks units canbe moved between said collapsed position and said separated position.12. The method of claim 7, wherein said cross members have wine bottlestorage indentations therein sized to accommodate said bottles of winein a horizontal position.
 13. A kit for creating an expandable, moveablewine rack system comprising a base member, stabilization bars, crossmembers, horizontal members, metal tracks, rollers, and instructions forcreating said wine rack system.
 14. An expandable, moveable wine racksystem comprising: two or more moveable wine racks units, each wine rackunit comprising a plurality of wine bottle cradles for storing winebottles in a horizontal position, wherein said two or more moveable winerack units are movable between a collapsed position wherein said two ormore movable wine rack units are adjacent to one another and a separatedposition wherein at least one of said two or more moveable wine racksunits are separated to allow ingress and egress of a used between saidmoveable wine racks, and wherein said two or more moveable wine rackunits each comprises a modular frame comprising a bottom, a plurality ofhorizontal members, cross members and stabilizing bars wherein saidframe is expandable such that the number of said horizontal members andsaid cross members can be added to or subtracted from.